trbccoffeebreak

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

Turn on the news—where is the peace? Look in your own community—where is the peace?

Everywhere we look we see economic challenges, historic unemployment, racial strife, and political unrest—all magnified and glorified by 24/7 media that dances on the edge of our vision like a dark shadow. And this external disquiet can’t help but steal our internal peace.

As we all struggle to find peace in our daily lives, we need to remember that we simply won’t find it here. Not now, not amid this fallen world. And not among fallen people. Even Jesus told us that we would have troubles on earth. So, if we can’t find peace here, in daily living in this world, then where can we find it?

Thousands of years ago, the prophet Isaiah gave us a promise to help us in our struggles with serenity, reminding us that peace is a choice. And it’s found in a Person.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Any concordance can show the nuanced meanings of the individual words in the verse: “stayed” means leaning, dependent upon, resting; “perfect peace” is literally “shalom shalom” or “peace upon peace”; “mind” means purpose or imagination; and “trust” means confidence, but it also means “hope”.

Quite simply, this verse could be reworded or reordered to read, “Because I have confidence in You and in Your hope, and because my purpose and thoughts are filled with You, You give me a deep peace that does not end.”

That’s an amazing promise, but it takes intentional action on our part. And it’s conditional. In other words, if we keep our thoughts on Him and trust Him, then He will keep us in peace.

I don’t know about you, but it takes effort to pull my thoughts and emotions away from the tumult of the world and focus on God, His Sovereignty, His control. Sometimes it’s a minute-by-minute discipline that I wrestle to embrace and practice. And I often lose that struggle, getting drawn back into the world’s angry shouting match that seems to just be getting louder. The pit in my stomach grows and an emptiness starts slithering around my heart. That’s the very moment I must stop, breathe, and refocus my mind on where it belongs: God.

Then, and only then, will I grab hold of that peace upon peace promised me.

“Lord, help me trust You, keep my mind stayed on You, and live each day in peace.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life